Benefits of Shyness and Modesty

Haya (shyness, modesty) is a branch of faith. (Bukhari, 9)

Alhamdulillah, who gives a good life to His righteous slaves.

الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ طُوبَىٰ لَهُمْ وَحُسْنُ مَآبٍ

The ones who have believed and done deeds of righteousness will have Tuba [goodness] and a beautiful return. (13:29)

And truly enjoyment of gratitude to Allah is greater than the enjoyment itself.

And truly blessedness is for the one who comes close to Allah through righteous deeds and purified intentions.

And truly the latter is better than the former.

And what is with you will deplete, but what is with Allah will remain.

Haya (shyness/modesty) is a part of faith in Islam. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

الْحَيَاءُ شُعْبَةٌ مِنَ الإِيمَانِ

Haya (shyness, modesty) is a branch of faith. (Bukhari, 9)

Shyness is often seen as a weakness in man. It is seen as an antithesis or opposite to confidence, courage, manliness, and assertiveness. 

However, a person can have all of these, yet still be modest and shy.

Think of the brave public speaker, who is confidently debating, yet remains shy to look at women in the audience. A lady who asks a scholar about sexually explicit questions yet does so in writing because of modesty. A man who feels like watching haram movies but for his shyness of Allah watching and the angels recording, he resists the temptation. And so on and so forth. 

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

الحياء لا يأتى إلا بخير

Haya does not bring anything except good. (Bukhari and Muslim, Riyad as-Salihin 681).

1. Haya before Allah, knowing He is watching, and the angels are recording protect one from sinning.

2. Haya in the form of self respect, where one feels shy to sin and do something bad, is a beautiful trait.

3. Haya where one desists from unnecessarily asking people for money encourages self sufficiency and is a preventative from begging.

4. Haya where one modestly covers their bodies brings about respectful societies and prevents lewdness.

5. Haya where one lowers his gaze and does not bother, harass and flirt with the opposite gender brings about decency and respect between genders.

6. Haya where one feels shy to indulge in shamelessness brings about the pleasure of Allah.

7. Haya which brings about humility as one remembers his flaws protects one from arrogance.

These are some examples of the benefits and beauty of haya (modesty).

So we praise Allah, for guiding us to beautiful character and manners, and sending us a Messenger who cleansed people from ignorance and wrong traits. 

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ حَيِيٌّ كَرِيمٌ يَسْتَحِي إِذَا رَفَعَ الرَّجُلُ إِلَيْهِ يَدَيْهِ أَنْ يَرُدَّهُمَا صِفْرًا خَائِبَتَيْنِ
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Indeed, Allah, is Modest, Generous, when a man raises his hands to Him, He feels too shy to return them to him empty and disappointed. (Tirmizi,3556, who said it is Hasan Ghareeb)